FYI FORD MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum / Has anyone installed later model shock towers in a 65 mustang?

**Posted by True74yamaha** 12/03/2024 3:46 PM

I dont know if it's a thing from the world down under or not. I found out from a Australian fellow that him and few people have installed later model shock towers and later model 1" pitman arm along with later centerlink, and controll arms as well on his 1966 mustang coupe. You gain little over 2" doing so and then the towers can be notched if wanted to gain more clearance. He said it's so easy changing spark plugs on his 289. And if I wanted to a big block will fit after the shock towers steering suspension mod.

**Posted by lowercasesteve** 12/03/2024 6:00 PM

i've seen the shock tower project a bunch of years ago. One of its uses was to allow standard headers when going to a 351 W/C. Big blocks were now better fitable, too.

**Posted by Greg B** 12/03/2024 7:05 PM

I remember reading an extensive article about it. One of the things you change is the car then uses 1967 control arms. I don't remember the details on steering. But I do remember it saying the frame rails are the same width on both cars. At 43 inches. It would seem reasonable it would use all 67 steering components, such as the spindles. I guess a benefit? would be you could then use unmodified Granada spindles, LOL. Would probably have to roll the fenders, but everyone does that, anyway. Edit: need 67 strut rods, strut rod braces, etc.

Last edited by Greg B (12/03/2024 8:31 PM)

**Posted by RCodePaul** 12/03/2024 7:24 PM

The short answer is that I didn't do it. Even though I had the damaged shock towers out of my car for a very long time...
I considered an MII swap, a McPherson swap and the 67-69 swap. I settled on either going back to original or 67-69 to keep a traditional look under hood. I was set on a 351W based stroker built in a non electronic era way.
The one thing about the swap was having to acquire steering and suspension for the later years. Not a huge obstacle but a consideration. Last year when I saw MS' mini trim of the 65 towers in his FB, I was convinced to go ahead. I did the mini trim and got them welded in and didn't look back.
Well, now that I'm starting to look back, I'll tell you that the headers have super tight clearance. They take hours to R&R. Plugs are a bit of a pain but not as difficult as those in my SCJ 69. All things considered, I think if you aren't dead set on the '65s, I'd encourage you to go with the 67-69 swap. Even trimmed, the '65s are pretty narrow.

Last edited by RCodePaul (12/03/2024 7:26 PM)

**Posted by Nos681** 12/03/2024 9:28 PM

I found some information with pictures of this swap.

This might allow you to run your wide late model engine.

https://www.vintage-mustang.com/threads/grafting-67-68-shock-towers-to-65-66-mustang.827730/

**Posted by 50vert** 12/04/2024 4:08 AM

I considered doing it when i converted a 65 to right hand drive. it becomes easier to use a variable ratio integrated PS box. You also don't havta pay someone to cut and weld the centerlink, the centerlink comes back with a serial number, a weld map, and xray results tied to the serial number. It's the only way to get an engineer to sign off on the conversion if you use an original centerlink.

**Posted by MS** 12/04/2024 8:48 AM

If you install 68 towers in a 65-66, you still can use 65-66 upper control arms, but you have to swap out the pivot shafts to the 67-68 version. Hole spacing is wider.

**Posted by True74yamaha** 12/04/2024 10:00 PM

MS wrote:
If you install 68 towers in a 65-66, you still can use 65-66 upper control arms, but you have to swap out the pivot shafts to the 67-68 version. Hole spacing is wider.

Awesome great info thank you. I was told the later control arms are longer. But I belive you that they are the same as side from the pivot shaft. I realize there definitely were slight changes to the lower control arms over the years.

I thought this swap sounds pretty nice since I'd gain space and also get upper control arms that mount flat to the shock towers vs 65-66 that use shims. There's not alot of shops out there that know how to align a new car let alone our first gen mustangs. Pretty sad my 2015 Mustang didn't even get aligned right.

**Posted by True74yamaha** 12/04/2024 10:03 PM

Does the later 67 lower control arm mount style work better then the 65-66? I've heard that the 67-68 are a little less prone to bump steer because of later style control arm mount. What are your opinions?

**Posted by TKOPerformance** 12/05/2024 6:17 AM

True74yamaha wrote:
MS wrote:
If you install 68 towers in a 65-66, you still can use 65-66 upper control arms, but you have to swap out the pivot shafts to the 67-68 version. Hole spacing is wider.

Awesome great info thank you. I was told the later control arms are longer. But I belive you that they are the same as side from the pivot shaft. I realize there definitely were slight changes to the lower control arms over the years.

I thought this swap sounds pretty nice since I'd gain space and also get upper control arms that mount flat to the shock towers vs 65-66 that use shims. There's not alot of shops out there that know how to align a new car let alone our first gen mustangs. Pretty sad my 2015 Mustang didn't even get aligned right.

I haven't paid to have any of my vehicles aligned for a decade. #1, no shop around here knows the old stuff. #2, even if they did they refuse to go by the specs I provide. For the cost of 2-3 alignments I bought everything I need to do the job at home. I've done everything from my WRX to my '67 to my F250. All handle better and wear the tires more evenly than when I paid shops to do it.